Mat's BX Blog

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:59 pm

This evening (after the chores of cutting and splitting firewood!) I fitted this to the silver BX.

Looks a bit naff but will be useful turning round when reversing lights alone aren't bright enough. Might put one on the red one too if it doesn't look too bad in daylight!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:05 am

Well, it seems like summer is finally over. After the last usually hot and dry week (even in Wales!) I've been busy making sure we have a stock of firewood to keep us warm this winter. We're storing them in an old caravan, but with this much weight I wouldn't like to tow it anywhere….

After splitting this lot, even muscles I didn't know I had are aching!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:40 pm

Just been over to Angelsey with Ian (Dollywobbler) to collect a tailgate for his estate, and a bumper for Docchevron. While Ian was here I thought it would be a good photo oppotunity to line up all 4 BXs together!

The 120 mile trip in his Mk1 was pretty uneventful, apart from a group of girls turning to laugh at the car (or us perhaps?) It's strange to think that just a few weeks ago it was covered in dust and up on blocks in a lock up, now it's cruising down the dual carriageway at a heady 70mph!

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:36 pm

Nice

Can't wait to get that car back!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:19 am

Not long to wait now!

I just realised that I never explained where my mystery water leak was getting in...

I previously wrote:I've got is a water leak - the driver's footwell fills up with water after heavy rain, which does happen every now and again in Wales. Looking up behind the dash it seemed damp underneath the scuttle so I feared the worst that it had rusted through. After taking both the fans and washer bottles out it seemed pretty good, which only adds to the mystery of where it is getting in!

...for those who have been eagerly wainting in suspense(!) here is what the problem was.

Although the bulkhead was fine, and the chalk on the door rubber didn't show anything, water was still coming in and quite rapidly. I knew it couldn't be from below, as it would fill up even when stationary. It seemed to be worse if the driver's door was more exposed, so that still pointed towards the door seal. What I found was that water was draining into the U section of the seal at the top of the door aparture, following the metal edge and draining out again at the bottom.

I cured it by filling the U section with silcone grease, and has proved sucessful so far. Plus I can still easily remove the seal if needs be, which would be a pain if I had used silicone sealant.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:34 pm

Took the silver BX for an MOT this morning, and was surprised to notice the difference between the two engines. The 1.7 really does feel significantly 'revvier' and really must have been a revelation in the late 80s given what other diesels were available at the time. I haven't had time to give it a going over before the MOT, so whilst I know the lights and wipers work, that's about it! Will be interesting to see later what the verdict is...

I've been fairly busy with the 106, which passed the MOT on Wednesday. When we were given it we were told it failed the MOT on emissions, brake hoses, brake pipes, front suspension bushes, poor front brakes and passenger door would not open.

Replaced the rear brake hoses, wheel cylinder, brake shoes, pads, replaced the brake fluid, spark plugs, suspension bushes and the latch mechanism for the grand total of £63 thanks to eBay. The result is a year's MOT for a shade over £100 (including the purchase price

) although I dread to think what labour charges would have been at a garage to remove the passenger latch. The thing was seized solid, and I obviously could not open the door to get at the securing screws...

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:04 pm

Well it failed

Ruining my 100% record this year! But the good news is that all it failed on is the rear brakes not working enough. Took a wheel off this evening and found this:

The pads had rusted solid into the caliper, but a quick clean up had them moving freely again. Retest on Monday, so should be road legal soon.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:15 pm

And....it passed! Actually just in time for the MOT running out on the red one. I'm sure it'll appreciate the rest, as it's done about 2500 miles in the last few weeks.

I also found out that as of yesterday, MOT certificates are now printed on a plain white piece of paper. It all looks very amateurish and easier to forge.

Post by **Defender110** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:53 am

mat_fenwick wrote: I also found out that as of yesterday, MOT certificates are now printed on a plain white piece of paper. It all looks very amateurish and easier to forge.

I suppose this down to everything now being electronically stored, it's now just a matter of going on line to check the MOT status which can't be forged making any paper certificate redundant in reality.

Post by **Tim Leech** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:13 am

mat_fenwick wrote:And....it passed! Actually just in time for the MOT running out on the red one. I'm sure it'll appreciate the rest, as it's done about 2500 miles in the last few weeks.

I also found out that as of yesterday, MOT certificates are now printed on a plain white piece of paper. It all looks very amateurish and easier to forge.

Noticed that too, mind you its all "on line" these days, the certificate and advisory sheet are printed on the same page to show prospective buyers what work may need doing in the future.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:04 pm

True, but maybe I'm getting old and resisting change?

Talking of change, I arranged the changeover of the insurance at the end of the month (no point in wasting half a month's tax) and bearing in mind that I'm already paying extra for a modified vehicle, I stupidly expected a standard model of the same car not to increase my premiums. But no, an extra £51 plus the £25 admin fee!

Lana has had a similar experience today - downgrading from a 2.5 ton, 3.9 litre 4x4 to a 800kg, 1.1 litre runabout she expected a bit of a refund considering the insurance has only been going a few months. But apparently the premium she was previously paying was the minimum premium allowed, so she 'only' had to pay the admin fee to downgrade...

Post by **Tim Leech** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:21 pm

Regarding the "new" TZD, have you sorted out its "hair lip" and put the chevrons on the right way yet

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:29 pm

If you check out the 3rd post on this page, you'll find the answer to that... Actually, the chevrons were the first thing I changed, sorry Bob if you're reading this!

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:51 am

First frost of the autumn this morning.....winter is drawing closer. Hopefully my anti pipe freezing system will work!

What a terrible year weather wise we've had - apart from a good April and early May, and a week in September there's been not more than a couple of days without rain. It's enough to make us seriously think about moving.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 1:59 pm

Not content just to rip me off, my insurance company has put a misplaced apostrophe on the certificate!

What exactly does my premium pay for?

vehicle identified above by it's registration mark

*shakes head in dismay*